Rail-coupling for iron fences



(No Model.)

0. HANIKA.

. RAIL COUPLING FOR IRON PENGES.

No. 448,029. Patented Mar. 10,1891.

lllllfllTillllIlllllllIlllllIlllllllllllllIlllllIllllllllllllllllllflZO'ZZneSseSM UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

CHRISTIAN HANIKA, OF WICHITA, KANSAS.

RAIL-COUPLING FOR IRON FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,029, dated March10, 1891. Application filed December 31, 1889. Renewed February 9, 1891Serial No. 380,778. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN HANIKA, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at WVichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State ofKansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Couplings for Iron Fences, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawingsand the=letters and figures of reference thereon, forming a part of thisspecification, in which Figure l is a perspective view showing a portionof two rails of an iron fence connected by means of myimprovedconnecting device, also showing a portion of the fence-pickets inposition in the fence-rail and in the coupling and a brace for assistingin the support of the fence. Fig. 2 is a similar View having thefence-pickets and brace removed and a portion of the coupling cap-platebroken away to show the manner of coupling. Fig. 3 is a detailedperspective view of the head-block of the coupling. Fig. 4 is a similarview of the cap-plate of the coupling. Fig. 5 is a side perspective viewof the said head-block and the end of two fence-rails united therewithas they would appear befiorethe, capplate is seated upon them. Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the coupling, especially showing the manner inwhich the cap-plate is adjusted into position upon the head-block andthe end of the fence-rails united therewith. Figs. 7 and 8 are centralvertical longitudinal sectional views of the coupling. Fig. 9 is acentral vertical cross-sectional view of the same, showing a side viewof a portion of' the post, picket, and brace; and Fig. 10 is a similarview having the picket and brace removed, showing the cap-platepartially adjusted to its seat.

This invention relates to certain improvements in couplings for ironfences for uniting the ends of the fence-rails; and it consists of anadjustable head-block adapted to be coupled with the fence-rails, acap-plate for retaining the rails in their position relative to thehead-block, and a screw or bolt for retaining said cap-plate upon thehead-block, the particular construction and arrangement of which I willproceed to explain.

Referring to the drawings,R R represent the fence-rails, each of whichis provided near its end with a slot S.

6 represents what is termed the postpicket, and e the intermediate orcommon pickets, of an iron fence.

D is the head-block of the coupling, and is provided with the centralvertical post-picket hole a, with the screw-threaded horizontal hole aleading into hole a, with the shoulder or offset P opposite the hole a,and with the opposite side arms D D, which arms are each provided with astud (1 equal in height to the upper plane of the said head-block.

The head-block D is of equal width with the rails R R, and the arms D Dof said head- .block are adapted to fit between the side flanges of saidrails, and their studs'ct enter into the slots S of the rails, as shownin Figs. 2, 5, 7, and 8.

B is the cap-plate of the coupling, and is provided with side flangesadapted to inclose the sides of the coupling, one of which terminateswith the flange-hook ,2, extending its entire length, and the body andopposite flange have the holes a and a, respectively, adapted toregister with the holes of the headblock D when the said plate isadjusted into position for use. (See Figs. 2, 7, and 9.) In adjustingthe cap-plate it is held parallel alongside the head-block andfence-rails and tilted sidewise, as shown in Figs. 6 and 10, so that itshook-flange 2 will engage under the shoulder P of the head-block andunder one side of the flanges of the fence-rails R B, after which itsopposite side is forced down so that it will rest closely .upon the saidheadblock and the studs a a when its holes a and a, will register withthe corresponding holes of the head-block. Brace E is then brought tobear against the side flange of the said cap-plate in such manner thatits hole will register with the hole a of the plate and head-block. Thescrew d is then passed through the hole in the brace and into said holea, the post-picket e is placed in hole a, as shown in Figs.1 and 9, andthe said screw cl is turned in hard against the post-picket, whichfirmly holds it in position and also secures the cap-plate to its seat.As a means of securingthe brace E the screw (1 is provided with thelock-nut d, which is arranged to be turned hard against the said brace,and thus clamp it firmly against the coupling.

In some instances the coupling is used separate from the brace E and inplaces where the screw (1, extending from the side, would be anobstruction, and in such instances as a means of holding the cap-plateproperly seated the studs a on the arms D and the said cap-plate areperforated, so that the said perforations will register with each other,and a bolt 0, as shown in Fig. 8, is arranged and secured in each studand arm, one through each end of the cap-plate. It will be observed thatthe head-block and its arms D are on different planes, and that thestuds a rise to the same plane as the head-block, as before stated, andit is the intention in this invention that the difference between saidplanes shall be slightly greater than the thickness of the fence-railswhich rest upon said arms, in order that said rails may not be toofirmly clamped between the arms D and plate B, but may be permitted toslide freely upon the said arms to thelimit of their slots S. Thus theyare allowed to expand and contract lengthwise from the influence of heatand cold independently of the coupling, and further are adapted to bemore readily adjusted into position when building a fence.

The essential feature in this invention is the means by which thefence-rails are held and confined to prevent vertical or lateral.

movement and permit a longitudinal movement for the purposes stated. Theheadblock being of the same width and height, or nearly so, as thefence-rails, and its arms being confined within the flanges of the saidrails, it permits the cap-plate to fit very closely about the coupling,and the whole presents a coupling of but slightly greater dimensionsthan the fence-rails, and thereby presents'a very neat appearance.Further, by means of the cap-plate arranged to fit closely about the topand sides of the head-block and rail ends they are practically protectedfrom the Weather, and consequently better preserved and less liable torust or to prevent free removal for repair and the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The fence-rail coupling described, consisting of the head-block D,provided with the vertical post-picket hole a, the horizontalscrew-threaded hole a, the shoulder P, and the arms D D, respectivelyprovided with the studs a 0 ,1116 cap-plate B, provided withcorrespondingholes and with the flange-hook z, and the screw (1,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the fence-rails having the slots S, thepost-picket e, and the brace E, of the head-block D, provided with thevertical hole a, the horizontal screwthreaded hole a, the shoulder P,and the op posite side arms D D, respectively provided with the studs aa the cap-plate B, provided with corresponding holes and with theflangehook z, the screw d, and the lock-nut d,substantially as and forthe purpose Specified.

3. The fence-rail coupling consisting of the head-block D, provided withthe opposite extending studded side arms and secured to the post-picket,and the cap-plate B, seated upon and secured to the head-block in themanner described, whereby the fence-rails are held from vertical orlateral movement and permitted a longitudinal movement the limit oftheir slot, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the slotted fencerails R R and the flangedcap-plate B, of the head-block D, provided with the studded oppositeside arms D D, less in width and on a lower plane than the upper surfaceof the head-block, and the means for securing the cap-plate upon thehead-block, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the detachable head-block D, provided with thestudded arms D D and shouldered at the junction of the arms, of thecap-plate B, arranged upon the head-block with its end portionsoverhanging said arms, and the slotted fence-rails R R, respectivelyarranged between said arms and cap-plate, substantially as set forth.

CHRISTIAN HANIKA.

Witnesses:

N. B. HAGIN, WM. J. HUTCHINS.

